In this week's edition of the SmartLess podcast, singer and actress Selena Gomez discusses how being honest about her mental health struggles has flourished into advocacy.
LISTEN NOW: Selena Gomez on SmartLess Podcast
Selena Gomez is known for being particularly candid about the facade of Hollywood- and her conversation on SmartLess was no exception. “A lot of that comes from my desire to try to be as not full of s*** as possible in my life” she joked with hosts Jason Bateman, Sean Haye,s and Will Arnett. While she admitted she may slow her music career in music in favor of acting, Gomez is continuing to advocate for mental and physical health.
“With all my health stuff, like I've had a kidney transplant, I have high blood pressure, gosh, I have mental health [difficulties]. And I don't even know, I'm sure I have other problems that I'm not aware of,” Gomez joked. Despite all these struggles, her perspective is clearly one of gratitude and supporting others. “You can think about a situation and say, ‘why me, why me?’ And instead, it's given me the gift to say, ‘Oh, I know why it's me. I'm there for those people that are going through what I went through.’ And I can say, ‘I hear you and I see you.'”
Listen to Selena Gomez Radio, Audacy’s I’m Listening Mental Health Remix and more on the free Audacy app
“I think that's why I did the documentary,” the actress and musician continued. Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me is an especially raw and intimate look at the singer’s life, including her struggles with her body image, fame, and Bipolar Disorder diagnosis over the course of nearly six years. Her ultimate goal was not to explain her career, but rather, continue to destigmatize the discussions around mental health. “That was a really big moment for me,” she said of the documentary’s 2022 release. “And [now] I have people coming up to me not saying like, ‘oh my God, can I have a picture?’ They would say, ‘I've dealt with depression’ or ‘I've done this.’ And then I end up having a connection with people.”
Though admitting she was “terrified” of being so vulnerable, Selena admitted that she’s grown comfortable in the public eye. “I don't know if I'm just, I've done it for too long, but I just have lost a little bit of that fear” she told the podcast. “I still get the butterfly feeling. So maybe I just got used to it and then I'm kind of like, ‘well, people are gonna like it or not.'”
Regardless if she’s acting, singing, or advocating, Gomez feels that being true to herself and her health is more important than the critiques. “I think I gravitate towards things I connect to and I'm all about authenticity. I can't really force myself to be anything other than who I am. And it's just, you know, luckily worked.”
To hear more about how Selena stays authentic with her mental health journey, you can listen to the full podcast episode for free on the Audacy app here. Please know you are not alone as you go through your own mental health journey.
Audacy's I’m Listening initiative aims to encourage those who are dealing with mental health issues to understand they are not alone. If you or anyone you know is struggling with depression or anxiety, know that someone is always there. Additionally, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 988. Find a full list of additional resources here.